Pumpkins Galore!

It wouldn't be Halloween without them. Some families make it an annual ritual to go to a pumpkin patch and choose the specimens they want to bring home. Bare-limbed trees provide the perfect ghostly perch for jack-o'-lanterns, candle lanterns, and a flock of faux black crows (don't be surprised if a few real ones alight). Make sure the tree limbs are sturdy enough to support the weight of the items you are hanging and take care not to overdecorate, which can lessen the overall effect. Funkins are an especially good choice for this project, since they're lightweight and won't rot. "Skip the fancy pumpkin-carving tools," advises Richard Kollath, who likes an old short-bladed serrated knife for carving both pumpkins and Funkins. Small lanterns from Barreveld International, fitted with orange votives, cast spooky shadows on your setting.